Write a reflective essay of (2 pages) that analyzes how the creative piece the poem is influenced by integration, and replies to some of the main concern of the primary text A Brief History of US Colonialism in Puerto Rico by E. Morales (pages 19-48)
Make sure to make the connection between your poem and Morales’ text clear, try to use concrete examples that prove that you understood the original text and shine a light on how you engaged with it in the creation of the poem.
The POEM:
1898
The land of Puerto Rico, so proud and so bold,
Its people have stories that need to be told,
Of struggles and triumphs, of joy and of pain,
Of a history rich with both sunshine and rain.
It was colonized, its people oppressed,
By a foreign power that left them distressed,
Their culture and language, traditions so old,
Suppressed by a government, so distant and cold.
The people of Puerto Rico, so vibrant and strong,
Were made to feel like they did not belong,
Their pride and their heritage stripped away,
By a country that promised them a brighter day.
But the scars of that year still linger today,
The emotional impact never quite fading away,
The pain of the past, the wounds that were made,
Still felt by the people, so deeply ingrained.
Yet amidst all the struggles, there remains a light,
Their unwavering strength, a constant fight,
The people so proud, so brave and so true,
Their spirit that cannot be broken or subdued.
So let us honor their stories, their triumphs and pain,
And remember that Puerto Rico’s spirit will always remain,
The beacon of hope, of courage and might,
The people who will continue to shine so bright.
